Don't touch that dial
A push by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys to make sure that singers are paid royalties when their songs are played on the radio has spurred a new opposition group.
The organization, calling itself the Free Radio Alliance, so far consists of 30 members and opposes what it calls a ``performance tax’’ that would cost as much as $7 billion and likely kill small stations.
Under a 1909 law, broadcast radio is exempt from paying royalties to performers, though royalties are paid to composers. In 1995 Congress ruled that Internet, satellite and cable stations should compensate singers and now is looking to eliminate the radio exemption.
The performers may have star power on their side _ a recent hearing on the topic featured ``Send in the Clowns’’ singer Judy Collins and ``Soul Man’’ crooner Sam Moore, but the radio interests are backed by the powerful National Association of Broadcasters.
Stay tuned for a big fight…